NATIONAL TELEPHONE DAY
On
April 25th, we observe National Telephone Day. Around the world, there
are 9.82 billion mobile phones. And while some predicted the landline to
be obsolete by 2020, there are still about 931 million landlines around
the world.National Telephone Day
Obtaining a Patent
The
correct answer to a trivia question like "Who invented the telephone?"
is the name on the patent. In this case, the whole world knows the
answer is Alexander Graham Bell. Had his attorney been delayed by foul
weather or poor planning, the answer may be a different name.
On February 14, 1876, Marcellus Bailey, one of Bell's attorneys,
rushed into the U.S. Patent office in Boston to file the patent for what
would be the telephone.
Later the same day, Elisha Gray filed a patent caveat for a similar device. A caveat is an intent to file for a patent.
There
was also a third contender. Antonio Meucci filed a caveat in November
of 1871 for a talking telegraph but failed to renew the caveat due to
hardships.
Because Bell submitted his record first, the patent
office awarded Bell the patent on March 7, 1876. Gray contested this
decision in court, but without success.
Alexander Graham Bell
Born
March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Bell taught at a boys'
boarding school. The sounds of speech were an integral part of his life.
His father developed a "Visible Speech" system for deaf students to
communicate. Bell would later become a friend and benefactor of Helen
Keller.
Three days after the patent was approved, Bell spoke the
first words by telephone to his assistant. "Mr. Watson, come here! I
want to see you!"
By May, Bell and his team stood prepared for a
public demonstration. And there would be no better place than the grand
stage of the World's Fair in Philadelphia. On May 10, 1876, in a crowded
Machinery Hall, a man's voice transmitted from a small horn and carried
out through a speaker to the audience.
One year later, the White House installed its first phone. The telephone revolution began.
Bell
Telephone Company was founded on July 9, 1877, and they installed the
first public telephone lines from Boston to Sommerville, Massachusetts,
the same year. By the end of the decade, nearly 50,000 phones existed
in the United States. In May of 1967, phone companies across the
country installed the 100 millionth telephone line.
How to Observe National Telephone Day
- Celebrate by calling someone and telling them Happy National Telephone Day!
- Share your vintage telephone pictures on social media.
- Try making a call with a rotary phone.
National Telephone Day History
In
May of 1967, the 100 millionth telephone line was installed in the
United States. On May 11th, governors and dignitaries for U.S.
territories joined President Lyndon Johnson on the largest conference
call ever held up to that date. Each governor, dignitary, and the
President were issued gold phones to commemorate the day. At the same
time, a proclamation was issued declaring May 12th as National Telephone
Day.
There is no record of the day being observed again on that date.
However, National Day Calendar continues to research the origins of this
technology day.
Telephone FAQ
Q. Do payphones still exist?
A. Yes. However, the number of payphones began declining in the
mid-1990s. If you're looking for a payphone, some cities and states have
payphone maps. You can also look in public places like federal offices,
libraries, transportation hubs, large shopping centers, and gas
stations.
Q. When was the first mobile phone invented?
A. Motorola made the first mobile phone called the DynaTAC 8000x in 1983.
Q. When was the first smartphone invented?
A. The Simon Personal Comminicator was released in 1994 by IBM.
Also
DNA Day
East Meets West Day
Hug a Plumber Day
Zucchini Bread Day
Historic Marker Day
Hairball Awareness Day
Arbor Day
Today's Thought
One's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
31 days until Memorial Day
